Automobile driving-gear.



I. HEIIRICH. AUTOMOBILE DRIVING GEAR. APPLlcATloN FILED Nov. 3o, 19u.

1 gg, Patented May 7,1918.

.'J'OHN EETTBICH, OF LINCGIN, NEBRASK..

AUTOMOBILE DRIVING-GEAR'.

Specication of Letters Patent. v

Patentedliay 7, 1913.

Application led November 30, 1917. Serial No. 204,562.

My invention relates to that class of automobile driving gears which are commonly` used in connection with knuckle-jointed axles and which individually comprise a ear ring axed to the inner face of a bearmg wheel, and a diiferentially driven pinion meshing with the ring. Such a driving gear is described in Letters Patent Nvo. 1,032,903, which were issued to me therefor July 16th, 1912. It is the main object of the present invention, to increase the compactness and stability of gearing of this kind; to produce a superior distribution of stresses therein; to hold the pinion constantly and invariably in itsv proper position relatively to the gear ring; to produce a retaining engagement between the gear ring and the pivoted knuckle member; and in general to produce a superior driv ing gear of the specified class. Toaccomplish this object I incorporate in/ my improved driving gear, as parts thereof, a

pivoted knuckle member which has a re-` taining engagement with the gear ring.

In said drawings, illustrating the best 85 manner in which I have contemplated applying the principles of my invention, Figure 1 is an end elevation of an automobile running gear which is provided with driving gear constructed and applied in accordance with these principles. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the section line 2 2 lin Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the section line 3-3 in Fig. 4. Fig. 4, beinga vertical section on the section line 4-4 in Fig. 3, represents an enlarged portion of Fig. 1. In these figures, the numeral 1 denotes one of the xed axles of the vehicle. Being bifurcated at each end, this laxle has the terminal arms 2 and 3, which are perforated in vertical alinement to furnish the bearings 2a and 3a. The axle also carries two spaced posts 4, which are formed integrally therewith and are provided with the horizontally alined journal bearings 5.

Continuously with the arm 2, the loop 8 extends symmetrically upward and is united with the top of the adjacent post 4 by the similar horizontal loop 8a. In the bearings 5 respectively, and in the opposite sides of the di erential gear case 6, are journaled the a ed shafts 7, each of which carries the eveled pinion 9, keyed thereto within the loop 8a. The spindle 10 of the knuckle joint is journaled in the bearings 2a and 3a and in the vertical perforation in the top of the loop 8, and .is fastened therein by the terminal nuts 11. On this spindle, and encircling the same, are placed the beveled gear 12 in mesh with the pinion 9, the

vbeveled gear 13 rigidlyv afxed to the gear 12, the washer 14 between the gear 13 and arm 2, and the knuckle member 15 with its bushing 16 which extends through the rarms 2 and 3 and spans the space between them.

'Ihis knuckle member so pivoted between the axle arms 2 and 3, is provided with the usual steering arm 17 and the usual stub axle 18 for the bearing wheel 19. It has a cylindrical portion 20 and an annular retaining flange 21 outstanding therefrom,

which are co-axial with the adjacent stub axle. The beveled gear ring 22, which is coaxially fastened to the inner face of the bearing wheel and meshes with the gear 13, has a central flange 23 which overhangs and encircles the cylindrical portion 20 of the knuckle member 15, and forms therewith and With the flange 21 the annular raceway which is occupied by the antifricJ tion bearing walls 24.

I claim as my invention-` 1. Driving gear of the speciied class, comprising a xed axle having a pair of terminal arms; a knuckle member pivoted between the arms, and having avcylindrical portion with a peripheral flange; a stub axle projecting coaxially from the knuckle member; a bearing wheel on the stub axle; a gear ring ailixed coaxially to the wheel and having an internal annular flange coacting Ywith the peripheral Bange; and means for rotating the gear ring.

2. Driving gear of the specified class, comprising a fixed axle having at each end a pair of spaced arms; a knuckle member pivoted between each pair of arms, and having a cylindrical portion with an outstanding annular f/lange; a stub axle extending coaxially from the knuckle member; a Ibearing wheel on the stub axle; a

gear ring affixed coaXially to the bearing wheel and having an internal annular flange s aced from the wheel; a plurality of anti iction balls between the flanges; and eax-ing for rotating the' gear ring.

3. ln a driving gear of the specified class, an integrally formed aXle comprising at each end of the axle a air of spaced arms with vertically alined Journal bearings in the arms of each pair;l a pair of spaced posts with horizontally alined bearings in the posts; and an intermediate framework connecting each post with the adjacent arm and having a journal bearing formed in the framework.

Witness my signature at Omaha, Nebraska, November 26, 1917.

JOHN HETTRICH. 

